Services

We offer classes in:

Ballet - A classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement. Our
classes combine techniques from Vaganova and Checcetti methods and focus on
developing ease of movement through building core strength, flexibility and a wide
repertoire of steps.

Tap - An American dance in which the rhythm is sounded using shoes having metal plates
on the heels and toes. Our classes focus on clean, fast rhythm tapping and employ both
Hoofing and Theatrical styles.

Theater Jazz - A dance performed to music from Broadway musicals in the style of the
performance being studied. Our lessons draw from classic productions as well as new,
popular shows.

Lyrical Jazz - A contemporary dance form that draws from expressive movement
motivated by the lyrics of a song. Our classes focus on building flexibility and strength
through fluid movement.

Modern - A style of dance that expands the range of motion outside the classical realm.
Our classes impart the styles of the great choreographers Jose Limon, Martha Graham,
Isadora Duncan and Lester Horton.

Hip-Hop - A rhythmic style of dance performed to popular music and derived from street
and club dancing. Our classes offer a rigorous workout to funky music combining "old-
school" with cutting edge "new-school" moves.

Creative Movement - An introduction to dance for young children aged 3 or 4. Our classes
use imagination to teach movements from Ballet, Tap, Jazz and even tumbling to develop
coordination, and to introduce the structure of a dance class.

(914) 941-0301

Meet our Teachers:

Maggie Brown, Owner/Director

Maggie Brown has been teaching Ballet, Tap and Jazz since 1984. She also
choreographs and teaches dance for high school musicals. Maggie was trained in
Classical Ballet by Mia Arbatova in Tel Aviv, Israel. She furthered her studies in the U.S.
with Madame Darvash and David Howard for Ballet, Gus Giardano and Luigi for Jazz, and
Germaine Salsberg for Tap. She continues her dance education - a life-long process- by
taking classes regularly from Frank Hatchett, Bill Hastings, Germaine Salsberg, Linda
Sabatelli, Amanda Turner and Mimi Wallace and by attending seminars, workshops and
master classes. Maggie has a unique style of personalizing her teaching to best help
students express their creative side while learning correct and safe dance technique.

Ashley Grace Brown, Assistant Director

Maggie's daughter, Ashley, started teaching dance in area studios at age 11 and
continues to inspire dancers both young and young-at-heart to embrace the joy of
movement. Ashley holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Syracuse University and a
Masters in Liberal Studies from Manhattanville College. She is currently studying dance in
San Francisco, CA. She has choreographed countless Spring Recitals and charitable
community performances in the Westchester and Syracuse communities, as well as
seven musical productions for the Byram Hills High School. Ashley is a member of the
House of the Roses Volunteer Dance Company and teaches weekly creative dance
classes to at-risk and homeless children in NYC. She has experience working with
students with special needs in both dance and music settings. Ashley is a New York
State Certified Teacher.

Jennifer E. Blankenship

Jennefer is very happyt to join our family of instructors this year.
Recently graduated with her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from Texas Woman's
University. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jennifer graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor
of Arts degree in Dance from Slippery Rock University in May 2005.
At Texas Woman's University, Jennifer served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and
previously served as the Video Lab Coordinator where she found an interest in dance film
making. She was also a member of DanceWorks, a DFW community outreach-based
company, and the Kinetic Artists Collective, a network of independent choreographers in
the metroplex. Her interest lies in the choreographic process as well as in space, rhythm,
and the physicality of movement. She is the artistic director of the DDCC, a youth compahy
based in St. Marys, PA.

Lauren Gaul

LAUREN GAUL- Is a graduate of the prestigious Oklahoma City University Dance
Department. Currently she is attending SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance for her
MFA in dance performance/teaching. She has had the opportunity to perform works by
Pedro Ruiz, Joyce Trisler, Jonathan Riedel, Mark Morris, and Daniel Nagrin. She
performed as a Radio City Rockette for 9 years, as a swing for 3 of those years in the
Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She has performed in the New York Company as well
as toured to Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, and Boston. She also performed as a Rockette in
other shows such as the Amtrak Whistle Stop Tour, the Columbus Day Parade, the
America’s Day Parade, Monday Night Football, and was a regular teacher for the Rockette
Experience in NY.   She has danced with The American Spirit Dance Co., Journey Dance
Co., and Tap Team II.   And performed in shows such as The El·n Awards, Dance Break,
Nothing Like A Dame with Jennifer Holiday, The Astaire Awards, and the Floberts Tap
Extravaganza. She has choreographed industrials for Lady Footlocker, Sesame Street,
Capezio, IZOD, and AUDI. She also assistant choreographed for Broadway Bares/Equity
fights AIDS with Tony Award winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell. She has assisted
Rhonda Miller on choreographing shows for Princess Cruise Lines, The Down Town
Theater Festival, and The El·n Awards honoring Susan Stroman and Robb Marshall, and
CHICAGO the musical at Maine State Musical Theater. She set these shows and was the
rehearsal director for numerous productions of Rhonda’s. Lauren’s choreography has
been featured at Broadway Dance Center, the Bridge for Dance, Jazz Dance World
Congress, and Jacob’s Pillow inside out performing space.   As well as a choreographer
Lauren has been in demand as a master teacher for conventions, competitions, schools,
and studios both regionally and nationally.   She travels all over the country teaching
master classes in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Tap. She was an Adjunct Professor at
Pace University in NY for two years where she taught Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theater. She
is teaching Jazz at SUNY Purchase this year, and has been invited to be a choreographer
for their Nutcracker production this fall. She has taught at Broadway Dance Center, New
Dance Group, the Bridge for Dance, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp, Belvoir
Terrace Performing Arts Camp, McComb College, and for the Arts Council of Pennsylvania’
s National Dance Week.

Tammy Kohlshmidt, Lyrical Jazz/Theater Jazz

Tammy teaches with humor and love and her classes are challenging and disciplined.
Her choreography reflects her soul and life experiences as a creative, ambitious dancer.
Students love Tammy's classes because she uses the energy of the moment to guide her
teaching and because she helps her students build self-esteem. Tammy has
choreographed for the American Heritage Dance Convention and a Juvenile Diabetes
Benefit show. Her dance project, be Dance be Charmed brings master classes in self-
esteem and creativity-building to this and other dance studios across the country. This is
her eighth year teaching for the Maggie Brown School of Dance.

Megumi Sasaki, Hip-Hop

After training in Fukuoka, Japan, Megumi brought her choreographic and performance
skills to New York and now graces the stage with her funky style and old school/new
school blend of hip-hop in many New York City venues and clubs. She brings to her
teaching a love of rhythm and a constantly expanding repertoire of the newest popular
dance moves from styles of Pop and Lock, Break Dance, Funk and Latin. Her special
skills in graphic design enhance the visual aesthetic of her choreography and personalize
her style.   This is her tenth year with the Maggie Brown School of Dance.